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Now that the movie is out, I thought I might as well share my opinions on it. I caught an early Xmas Eve screening. As someone who knows the original musical, I was pleasantly surprised with this adaptation. It’s one of the best stage musical to film adaptations I have seen in quite a while. Surprisingly, Disney let most of the dark elements from the original show still slide in this film.
Cinderella’s step sisters still have parts of their feet cut off by their mother as attempts to fit into the shoe, the step sisters also still get blinded by birds, Rapunzel’s prince still gets blind by falling into a bed of thorns, the steward still kills Jack’s mom, Cinderella’s prince still cheats on Cinderella by seducing the Baker’s wife (their song, “Any Moment”, is still intact), and the Baker’s wife still dies. However, Rapunzel no longer dies, but instead runs away with her prince and are never seen again. Rapunzel’s death in the original show was a catalyst for making the witch go crazy during the final act, so there is something lost by omitting that death. I’m not as bothered about it as I could have been, and I think it’s partially because Rapunzel was only in a small portion of the story to begin with. Again, I’m astounded Disney left as much of the dark and mature elements of the show in as they did.
I have to hand it to the casting decisions made for the film. For the most part, everyone in the cast shines in their roles. Meryl Streep kills it as the witch, especially when she sings “The Last Midnight.” James Corden and Emily Blunt are both splendid as the Baker and his wife. Anna Kendrick is very cute, but appropriate as Cinderella. Both Princes are great, especially Chris Pine as Cinderella’s Prince. The “Agony” number between both Princes was perfectly performed, and is arguably the highlight of the entire movie. Lilla Crawford and Daniel Huttlestone are superb as Red and Jack. If there’s any weak link in the casting, it’s Johnny Depp as the Wolf. Something about Depp’s performance just seemed off, but fortunately the Wolf is such a small portion of the play to begin with. I also somewhat wish they had double cast Chris Pine as both the Wolf and Cinderella’s Prince, as the two roles are traditionally double cast with the same actor. A reason the roles are normally double cast is because princes can be compared to wolves, in regards to how both can be predators to heed caution against in their own right.
I just saw Into the Woods today, and while I liked it, it felt a bit long. The music was wonderful, though, and it was nice to see some of my favorite actors/actresses singing. Meryl Streep was wonderful as always. James and Emily were also very good together. And I adore little Daniel! He played Gavroche in Les Miserables…the kid can not get any more talented or adorable.
All in all, I thought it was decent, although Johnny Depp was too creepy as the wolf. In order to sing “Hello, Little Girl”, he should have looked more like a wolf. Because coming from a middle-age man, singing to a little girl, that scene was just really uncomfortable.
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